People who get 9's in their GCSE's, what is your home schedual like? How to revise?
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Hey ended up with 9x9, my major tips would be DO PAST PAPERS as others have already said. Also make sure to mark them yourself so you get an idea of what the mark schemes are looking for. I found that I had to do a lot more work for essay subjects than science/maths as I'm better at STEM but that might not be the case for you. For RS I would recommend Ben Wardle on youtube and (I did AQA btw so it might be different for other boards) having a set structure for the 12-mark questions so you don't have to worry about structure in the exam and can just focus on getting as much down as possible. Also in all essay subjects make sure you've practiced enough to know your timings because you do not want to be panicking in the exam about running out of time so make sure you know exactly how long you can spend on each question.
For biology I used science with hazel on youtube, she has videos where she goes through the entire syllabus and what you need to say to get the marks. For chemistry make sure you're 100% confident on ALL calculations to do with moles because the chances of them coming up is really high. And in physics, learn the equations. I got a full formula sheet because I did mine this year but knowing all the equations was still really helpful because I didn't have to waste time staring at the sheet - plus by the time you're doing it there will probably only be a reduced or no formula sheet.
I hope this was at least partially helpful - any more questions just ask! You have a lot of time so try to work consistently but make sure to rest or you'll get burnt out. You do not have to be a genius or work 10 hours a day to get all 9s, some good study techniques that work for you and really good exam technique will do wonders
For biology I used science with hazel on youtube, she has videos where she goes through the entire syllabus and what you need to say to get the marks. For chemistry make sure you're 100% confident on ALL calculations to do with moles because the chances of them coming up is really high. And in physics, learn the equations. I got a full formula sheet because I did mine this year but knowing all the equations was still really helpful because I didn't have to waste time staring at the sheet - plus by the time you're doing it there will probably only be a reduced or no formula sheet.
I hope this was at least partially helpful - any more questions just ask! You have a lot of time so try to work consistently but make sure to rest or you'll get burnt out. You do not have to be a genius or work 10 hours a day to get all 9s, some good study techniques that work for you and really good exam technique will do wonders
(edited 3 months ago)
Original post by ShakyCacti
Hey - I sat my GCSEs this year and got perfect results (nine 9s, and an A in Level 3 Maths). I was not overly strict with myself; I was disciplined cause I understood the weight of the situation, so for a while my revision was essentially ruled by fear. It worked, but that's obviously not sustainable and you need the guts to do it, and guts is not a prerequisite for doing well.
Everything they tell you about past papers is true. They are the truth. The gold dust. A good 95% of my revision consisted of past paper after past paper; I drilled them to the point where I felt there was absolutely nothing they could throw me that would come as a curveball. Obviously there was stuff in the exams that I completely missed or messed up with (Geography papers 1 and 2 lmao), but with each exam I went in with a level head, and I knew the work I had done had been driven by my instincts and this built my confidence. I did about 3 past papers for each paper in the build up, equating to about 60 past papers or so. A lot, but it's possible and will really help - the reason it's so efficient is it's as close to what you'll actually get as possible. It's like a football team training against their opposition the day before the real match. It's like cheating.
I was very disillusioned with creative methods like mind-maps and flashcards. When I did make revision resources they were these humongous documents covering EVERYTHING in the specification. Even if I was copying off somewhere else, all of it was going into my head as I typed it out. My English Literature revision consisted of writing essay plans with quotes surrounding each theme - one tip I don't hear shared often is that by learning themes, you will learn characters at the same time as all they do is convey a certain theme. For example, the character of Macbeth exists to symbolise guilt, manliness, kingship and more. Mr Salles is practically a guaranteed way of getting 9s in English. I didn't take notes for the sciences - I used Cognito's interactive lessons which are a brilliant tool.
Exam technique is also so huge. I knew so many people who would do so well in lessons, but put them in a hall and they'd perform nothing like they did. For every exam I used Rescue Remedy to calm my nerves (I'm not here to be a Holland and Barrett but it's a good tip), and highlighted EVERYTHING. I decided it was worth taking up all of my time to do things thoroughly and make sure I missed absolutely nothing. I got a good night's sleep every night and woke up with ample time to get myself in a state where I could take an exam.
As the weeks went along, I virtually monkey-barred from one exam to the next. I found there was no time for reflection, once one exam was done you had to start thinking about the next three. For me, I felt it was perfect to just be fluid and take each one as they come.
Efficient revision and a good mindset trumps every single cardboard-cutout revision strategy every single time. Find what works for you, trust your instincts and just go for it. I know it's a late reply, but I wish you every success for next year
Everything they tell you about past papers is true. They are the truth. The gold dust. A good 95% of my revision consisted of past paper after past paper; I drilled them to the point where I felt there was absolutely nothing they could throw me that would come as a curveball. Obviously there was stuff in the exams that I completely missed or messed up with (Geography papers 1 and 2 lmao), but with each exam I went in with a level head, and I knew the work I had done had been driven by my instincts and this built my confidence. I did about 3 past papers for each paper in the build up, equating to about 60 past papers or so. A lot, but it's possible and will really help - the reason it's so efficient is it's as close to what you'll actually get as possible. It's like a football team training against their opposition the day before the real match. It's like cheating.
I was very disillusioned with creative methods like mind-maps and flashcards. When I did make revision resources they were these humongous documents covering EVERYTHING in the specification. Even if I was copying off somewhere else, all of it was going into my head as I typed it out. My English Literature revision consisted of writing essay plans with quotes surrounding each theme - one tip I don't hear shared often is that by learning themes, you will learn characters at the same time as all they do is convey a certain theme. For example, the character of Macbeth exists to symbolise guilt, manliness, kingship and more. Mr Salles is practically a guaranteed way of getting 9s in English. I didn't take notes for the sciences - I used Cognito's interactive lessons which are a brilliant tool.
Exam technique is also so huge. I knew so many people who would do so well in lessons, but put them in a hall and they'd perform nothing like they did. For every exam I used Rescue Remedy to calm my nerves (I'm not here to be a Holland and Barrett but it's a good tip), and highlighted EVERYTHING. I decided it was worth taking up all of my time to do things thoroughly and make sure I missed absolutely nothing. I got a good night's sleep every night and woke up with ample time to get myself in a state where I could take an exam.
As the weeks went along, I virtually monkey-barred from one exam to the next. I found there was no time for reflection, once one exam was done you had to start thinking about the next three. For me, I felt it was perfect to just be fluid and take each one as they come.
Efficient revision and a good mindset trumps every single cardboard-cutout revision strategy every single time. Find what works for you, trust your instincts and just go for it. I know it's a late reply, but I wish you every success for next year
This post is perfect! I wish I could like it 3 times over. There's some other great advice on this thread.
I've just received my results, and I got 11 9s (including L2 Further Maths). The best tip I could give is to learn everything right the first time. There's a reason revision is called "revision" -- you're going over information you've already learnt! Pay attention in lessons. When I was bad at a subject, I would make more of an effort to put my hand up when I did know the answer to boost my confidence (and reduce the chance of the teacher picking on me...), which really worked! Saying things allowed or when asked a question helps you remember better. It can be embarrassing to get it wrong, but at the end of the day, it's about you and your grades. If you participate enough, the teacher might even think you're joking
If you do use flash cards, wording them as questions is very effective. Make sure to prioritise the beginning information and key words for the flash cards, considering these are the fundamentals. Next, put what you struggle with most onto flash cards. Brainscape is good because you can rate your knowledge from 1 to 5. Reading the specification is very important for the sciences, and you can even take phrases directly from it, change them into a question and put the answer. (A few came up in my chemistry paper!)
Another great tip: Take your mocks seriously! These are the best practice for how it will feel in a real exam hall. If you don't bother revising for French in the mock, for example, it'll only make you more worried for the real exam. This is your best opportunity to test revision techniques and see how they work.
I have loads to say about languages (239/240 in French and 231/240 in German, which I started in Year 10), so reply if you want advice on that
I can talk about NEA subjects as well! (I did food tech 
)Getting enough sleep is very important. The only time I didn't sleep on time was when I was staying up until almost 3am revising history – I don't recommend this, given that I couldn't focus properly in my maths paper 2 (but it was my best history exam). Being well-rested helps you remember more information and allows you to work out and process the question better, which is important for all subjects!
When exam season approaches, DO NOT revise for 12 hours a day for 3 months – it's not sustainable, and it's not needed. I revised for maybe 4 hours a day with good quality revision instead of re-reading. If you make flash cards or do past papers, more time will be needed than that, but resting enough is essential. I was relatively kind about taking breaks, and instead of a strict revision schedule, I had tasks I wanted to achieve that day to avoid a feeling of, "Oh, I was supposed to start at 5pm and it's 17:03..."
Lastly, I'll say that getting all 9s isn't easy, and it does require a trade-off between spending more time on subjects you're struggling with at the expense of subjects you're great at. I am, and always will be, eternally grateful for my English teacher going over essays with me after school to help me perfect my exam technique 2 days before my first English Literature exam.
PS: Revision resources I used were Seneca, Cognito for the sciences, Brainscape, the specifications, YouTube videos for subjects like history, DystopiaJunkie on YouTube for WJEC/Eduqas English, The GCSE Maths Tutor on YouTube, Memrise for the languages, many past papers, Duolingo Stories before they did that random update, and PMT (Physics and Maths Tutor). I never paid a penny, but I heard CGP books are great!
Original post by hm-notsure098
This post is perfect! I wish I could like it 3 times over. There's some other great advice on this thread.
I've just received my results, and I got 11 9s (including L2 Further Maths). The best tip I could give is to learn everything right the first time. There's a reason revision is called "revision" -- you're going over information you've already learnt! Pay attention in lessons. When I was bad at a subject, I would make more of an effort to put my hand up when I did know the answer to boost my confidence (and reduce the chance of the teacher picking on me...), which really worked! Saying things allowed or when asked a question helps you remember better. It can be embarrassing to get it wrong, but at the end of the day, it's about you and your grades. If you participate enough, the teacher might even think you're joking
If you do use flash cards, wording them as questions is very effective. Make sure to prioritise the beginning information and key words for the flash cards, considering these are the fundamentals. Next, put what you struggle with most onto flash cards. Brainscape is good because you can rate your knowledge from 1 to 5. Reading the specification is very important for the sciences, and you can even take phrases directly from it, change them into a question and put the answer. (A few came up in my chemistry paper!)
Another great tip: Take your mocks seriously! These are the best practice for how it will feel in a real exam hall. If you don't bother revising for French in the mock, for example, it'll only make you more worried for the real exam. This is your best opportunity to test revision techniques and see how they work.
I have loads to say about languages (239/240 in French and 231/240 in German, which I started in Year 10), so reply if you want advice on that I can talk about NEA subjects as well! (I did food tech )
Getting enough sleep is very important. The only time I didn't sleep on time was when I was staying up until almost 3am revising history – I don't recommend this, given that I couldn't focus properly in my maths paper 2 (but it was my best history exam). Being well-rested helps you remember more information and allows you to work out and process the question better, which is important for all subjects!
When exam season approaches, DO NOT revise for 12 hours a day for 3 months – it's not sustainable, and it's not needed. I revised for maybe 4 hours a day with good quality revision instead of re-reading. If you make flash cards or do past papers, more time will be needed than that, but resting enough is essential. I was relatively kind about taking breaks, and instead of a strict revision schedule, I had tasks I wanted to achieve that day to avoid a feeling of, "Oh, I was supposed to start at 5pm and it's 17:03..."
Lastly, I'll say that getting all 9s isn't easy, and it does require a trade-off between spending more time on subjects you're struggling with at the expense of subjects you're great at. I am, and always will be, eternally grateful for my English teacher going over essays with me after school to help me perfect my exam technique 2 days before my first English Literature exam.
PS: Revision resources I used were Seneca, Cognito for the sciences, Brainscape, the specifications, YouTube videos for subjects like history, DystopiaJunkie on YouTube for WJEC/Eduqas English, The GCSE Maths Tutor on YouTube, Memrise for the languages, many past papers, Duolingo Stories before they did that random update, and PMT (Physics and Maths Tutor). I never paid a penny, but I heard CGP books are great!
I've just received my results, and I got 11 9s (including L2 Further Maths). The best tip I could give is to learn everything right the first time. There's a reason revision is called "revision" -- you're going over information you've already learnt! Pay attention in lessons. When I was bad at a subject, I would make more of an effort to put my hand up when I did know the answer to boost my confidence (and reduce the chance of the teacher picking on me...), which really worked! Saying things allowed or when asked a question helps you remember better. It can be embarrassing to get it wrong, but at the end of the day, it's about you and your grades. If you participate enough, the teacher might even think you're joking
If you do use flash cards, wording them as questions is very effective. Make sure to prioritise the beginning information and key words for the flash cards, considering these are the fundamentals. Next, put what you struggle with most onto flash cards. Brainscape is good because you can rate your knowledge from 1 to 5. Reading the specification is very important for the sciences, and you can even take phrases directly from it, change them into a question and put the answer. (A few came up in my chemistry paper!)
Another great tip: Take your mocks seriously! These are the best practice for how it will feel in a real exam hall. If you don't bother revising for French in the mock, for example, it'll only make you more worried for the real exam. This is your best opportunity to test revision techniques and see how they work.
I have loads to say about languages (239/240 in French and 231/240 in German, which I started in Year 10), so reply if you want advice on that
I can talk about NEA subjects as well! (I did food tech )Getting enough sleep is very important. The only time I didn't sleep on time was when I was staying up until almost 3am revising history – I don't recommend this, given that I couldn't focus properly in my maths paper 2 (but it was my best history exam). Being well-rested helps you remember more information and allows you to work out and process the question better, which is important for all subjects!
When exam season approaches, DO NOT revise for 12 hours a day for 3 months – it's not sustainable, and it's not needed. I revised for maybe 4 hours a day with good quality revision instead of re-reading. If you make flash cards or do past papers, more time will be needed than that, but resting enough is essential. I was relatively kind about taking breaks, and instead of a strict revision schedule, I had tasks I wanted to achieve that day to avoid a feeling of, "Oh, I was supposed to start at 5pm and it's 17:03..."
Lastly, I'll say that getting all 9s isn't easy, and it does require a trade-off between spending more time on subjects you're struggling with at the expense of subjects you're great at. I am, and always will be, eternally grateful for my English teacher going over essays with me after school to help me perfect my exam technique 2 days before my first English Literature exam.
PS: Revision resources I used were Seneca, Cognito for the sciences, Brainscape, the specifications, YouTube videos for subjects like history, DystopiaJunkie on YouTube for WJEC/Eduqas English, The GCSE Maths Tutor on YouTube, Memrise for the languages, many past papers, Duolingo Stories before they did that random update, and PMT (Physics and Maths Tutor). I never paid a penny, but I heard CGP books are great!
Those language scores are impressive - any tips?
ik its bad but for the subjects i got 9s in i revised morning of, i had a very busy life outside of exams because every time i got home from school i would have to go and care for my grandmother and do all of her chores for her which took up most of my day excluding school/exam time. This left me only the morning of the exam to revise (and lunchtimes for exams in the afternoon). I will say, past paper questions are amazing and also quick summary videos on topics you need a quick refresh on are good.
I only got 4 9s (99998888877) but hope this helps, i know i could have achieved better but I was so busy all of the time
I only got 4 9s (99998888877) but hope this helps, i know i could have achieved better but I was so busy all of the time
Original post by Aloysius O'Hare
Those language scores are impressive - any tips?
I have plenty, actually!
The first thing is to pay attention. The amount of people I saw playing games, going on TikTok or just generally doing something else in language lessons compared to others was astonishing. Without paying attention, you don't know what you don't know.
When I picked up German, I learnt it for 6 months before lockdown happened, then had a few lessons on food and modal verbs the next year before Year 10. I hardly remembered how to say "My name is...", and that's putting it lightly! In the lessons, whenever my German teacher wrote something down, I wrote it down and asked for the meaning. That was pretty much everything at the start, but I spent at least half an hour every day revising what I had newly learnt, and I spent another 20 minutes daily catching up on the year of GCSE content I'd missed. In about six months, I was at the top of my German class.
Vocabulary is the most important. It helps you understand what's going on; even if you know 3 words out of 18 in a sentence, if one of them is a noun or a verb, you understand an idea that's been communicated. I learnt over 2500 words by the time I got to the exam. Find somewhere to practise these words in context – I remember learning words on Memrise, then hearing someone say it and I didn't understand it at all because I'd memorised the answer instead of learning it. By the way, entire GCSE courses for different languages are on Memrise, unless the language you're studying isn't common.
Easy German/French/Spanish/another MFL videos are fantastic for this, and they use natural vocabulary, which also improves your listening. They sound fast at the beginning, but this is great, seeing as the real exam will sound slow if you watch enough of the videos! Listening to other people speak indirectly boosts your speaking and your accent. Asking your teacher for extra reading texts (or looking for ones in a textbook you might use in class) is another good way to practise in context.
Learn words with their gender. Keep practising them this way, and you'll rarely forget. It also helps you see patterns and be better at guessing the gender for unknown words. Make sure to spell them correctly if you use flash cards, and accents are very important. In some cases, they can change the meaning of a word.
Finding a verb trainer is necessary for the languages. If you don't know how to write the verbs in their individual form, you won't get the marks for them. Learning the most common 50 verbs in the language is a great place to start, but more verbs than that can lead to vocabulary that's irrelevant for the GCSE. Prioritise the verbs that you see over and over (same for vocabulary).
Practice a reasonable amount every day (3 hours a day is too much, and 5 minutes is likely too little). With the languages, cramming is very ineffective, even if it might work for other subjects. It takes repeated practice to get the words into your long-term memory. Little and often. The more often you practise, the less often you'll need to.
Revise for the mock like the real exam. Your teachers may very well use a past paper with things you haven't learnt, and words you've never seen before just might come up in the exam. To prepare, there's nothing better than – you guessed it – past papers! Even if you understand everything, you need the right exam technique to get all the marks on the writing paper, lots of practice for the translations and many texts for the reading paper. This way, you can answer the listening paper and go through the transcript after to connect the words to the text. Start with separate questions, then work your way up to a past paper.
If you learn what you do know really well, you can work out what you don't know by reading around or listening to the other words. In my German mock, I didn't know 20% of the words, and they even asked for exact translations of words I'd never seen. I still got 55/60 in the listening and 56/60 in the reading because my understanding of everything else helped me guess accurately
For anyone doing two languages, it sounds really difficult, and it can be at the beginning, but French and German eventually became my easiest subjects. I actually was able to barely revise French, giving me more time to focus on my other subjects. They have a similar exam structure, very similar criteria for the writing exam, and you could even write the same sentences in both languages if you wanted to. Make sure to revise the languages at different times or with a break in between. If the words have a different gender between languages, focus on those when revising.
For speaking, the best way to improve is to learn many fresh opinion phrases, focus on how the language sounds and practise the sound of the accents, making sure that the way you say it doesn't change the tense (particularly for French). Making up a great story with the vocabulary you know is much better than trying to say what you actually did last weekend and getting stuck. Writing a sentence and speaking it aloud might help.
For the real exam, please remain calm, especially for speaking and listening! If you don't understand what your teacher says, ask to repeat. Don't speak in English. If you missed the first listen, pay attention to the second!
Let me know if you want more specific advice,
Hey, I also got 9s in all my subjects (as well as a Distinction* in BTEC drama). Mainly just reiterating the fact that past papers are absolutely crucial but also suggesting active recall! It is 1000x better to read something then write down what you remember than just to copy stuff down. I also used Anki for Eng Lit quotes and French vocab which is super useful for spaced repetition. Another thing to say is check in with yourself- if you are revising and you know that nothing is going into your brain, just stop revising. Have a 5 min break or a 30 min break but just don't force yourself because it won't be beneficial. I did Maths, Eng Lit, Eng Lang, Bio, Chem, Physics, History, French and L2 FM if you'd like any advice
Hello. I got 12 9s as well as an A in Level 3 Maths as well.
Quite frankly, it is full of pain, tears and bloodshed. Doubted myself COUNTLESS TIMES, and I think Pret Coffee Subscription is the best thing on earth (it gives you an office space, and 5 caffeine hits everyday).
Jokes aside, I came from a non-English speaking country and joined an average low-attainment low-resource state comprehensive in year 10 December. Proves that one and a half year is more than enough to ace everything.
Be strict with yourself. For the whole year 11, I literally revised more than 8 hours a day. (getting up at 8 for ski, finishing at 3:25, then arriving at Pret at 5, revising for two hours till 7, then getting home and revising until 1am, sleep and repeat). I probably spent too much time no everything, plus I need time to pick up on my English (I'm a ESL student).
Evidently, you lose a life outside school. But I think I didn't entirely. At least got a girlfriend revising with me all the time, having rest days, binging Netflix occasionally and socialising. Get the balance right, that's my giveaway.
Also start early. I started right away mid-year 10 and made notes for every topic on most subject. How to study matters!!! For English subjects:
English Lang:
As an ESL who is inferior in linguistics yet still getting a 9, I believe language skills doesn't matter, exam skills does. I dont understand wtf the thing is saying half the time, all I know is how to answer questions. It really comes down to practising 2 days prior to the exam. Both of my English exams are on Mondays, so I just used weekends to practice. Watch Mr Salles and read examplar answers. Find your own way to answer each question. Trust me, you will succeed.
English lit:
For Shakespeare, since it is really not a long play (I did Macbeth), I got really familiarised with the play and did not deliberately memorise anything. I got to the point where I mastered the play and can go on and on about it, giving quotes and analysing them beautifully. That's what I did. (also use Myshakespeare and PMT, their notes really help).
For the novel and modern play/friction, make flashcards for quotes from YouTube videos. Dystopia Junkie really helps. On one side of the flashcard, write the quote; on the other, analyze it. Write concise bullet points.
For the poems, f*** them. There are too much of them, you would never know each one of them inside out. Play the game. For each theme, know two poem in depth so that you can use them in comparing, and just analyze and know the context briefly for every other poem. This way, I would at least have a good comparison bit for whichever poem, as well as knowing how to analyze the poem they gave you. Hope it makes sense.
Best of luck!
Quite frankly, it is full of pain, tears and bloodshed. Doubted myself COUNTLESS TIMES, and I think Pret Coffee Subscription is the best thing on earth (it gives you an office space, and 5 caffeine hits everyday).
Jokes aside, I came from a non-English speaking country and joined an average low-attainment low-resource state comprehensive in year 10 December. Proves that one and a half year is more than enough to ace everything.
Be strict with yourself. For the whole year 11, I literally revised more than 8 hours a day. (getting up at 8 for ski, finishing at 3:25, then arriving at Pret at 5, revising for two hours till 7, then getting home and revising until 1am, sleep and repeat). I probably spent too much time no everything, plus I need time to pick up on my English (I'm a ESL student).
Evidently, you lose a life outside school. But I think I didn't entirely. At least got a girlfriend revising with me all the time, having rest days, binging Netflix occasionally and socialising. Get the balance right, that's my giveaway.
Also start early. I started right away mid-year 10 and made notes for every topic on most subject. How to study matters!!! For English subjects:
English Lang:
As an ESL who is inferior in linguistics yet still getting a 9, I believe language skills doesn't matter, exam skills does. I dont understand wtf the thing is saying half the time, all I know is how to answer questions. It really comes down to practising 2 days prior to the exam. Both of my English exams are on Mondays, so I just used weekends to practice. Watch Mr Salles and read examplar answers. Find your own way to answer each question. Trust me, you will succeed.
English lit:
For Shakespeare, since it is really not a long play (I did Macbeth), I got really familiarised with the play and did not deliberately memorise anything. I got to the point where I mastered the play and can go on and on about it, giving quotes and analysing them beautifully. That's what I did. (also use Myshakespeare and PMT, their notes really help).
For the novel and modern play/friction, make flashcards for quotes from YouTube videos. Dystopia Junkie really helps. On one side of the flashcard, write the quote; on the other, analyze it. Write concise bullet points.
For the poems, f*** them. There are too much of them, you would never know each one of them inside out. Play the game. For each theme, know two poem in depth so that you can use them in comparing, and just analyze and know the context briefly for every other poem. This way, I would at least have a good comparison bit for whichever poem, as well as knowing how to analyze the poem they gave you. Hope it makes sense.
Best of luck!
Hello! I am Year 11 / going into Year 12 this year and I got 8 9s and 2 7s, and to be honest, I am not sure, but one thing that really benefited me and I think was probably the main thing that helped was the app Flora. It really helped to motivate me and from perhaps the second week of actual exams, I found that I didn't need it to feel motivated to revise, though I still used it. I watched a lot of YouTubers, especially for Science and English literature. My teacher was good for English and I go to a good school, but I found watching videos on my texts really beneficial as I looked at lots of different interpretations that we might not have discussed in class. I also did so many past paper questions. For GCSE, I found that a lot of the same answers kept coming up and they are so specific that even if you understand the content, often if you don't put the specific answer they don't give you the mark. So looking at mark schemes is really important! I kept trying to make flashcards but kept losing them and I didn't really find them that helpful, if I am honest, but if you find them helpful, go for it! For English, up to my exams, I did lots of essays and story / article writing practise and apparently that really helped! Good luck, and keep up the good work!
Oh and another thing, please don't be really worried when you see lots of people studying for hours on end in the evenings. I don't understand how anyone did that, to be honest, because I studied for maybe an hour or two tops whilst I was at school. On study leave, it was different of course because I didn't have actual school, but yeah! It seemed crazy to me, maybe because I cook all of my own meals and basically look after myself in the evenings because my aunt works at nights (I am really happy doing this so don't judge her or me lol). Anyways yes, good luck!
Oh and another thing, please don't be really worried when you see lots of people studying for hours on end in the evenings. I don't understand how anyone did that, to be honest, because I studied for maybe an hour or two tops whilst I was at school. On study leave, it was different of course because I didn't have actual school, but yeah! It seemed crazy to me, maybe because I cook all of my own meals and basically look after myself in the evenings because my aunt works at nights (I am really happy doing this so don't judge her or me lol). Anyways yes, good luck!
Hi, I'm currently in year 10 and to a superise it looks like we're taking nearly all the same subjects accept geography. I'll be pretty honest with you, you have taken a pretty strong set of subjects here and if your aiming for top, top unis in the future they will definitely be impressed with what you've got here. Let me get to the point though, I'm not fully qualified yet to give you advice on how to get all nines but this is my perspective. In year 9, do not bother revising every single day for your gcses. ( especially 3 hours) .First of all, not only is that a massive amount of pressure on you but if im right you haven't even started your actual gcse work. It all starts in year 10, I'd say that's when you should start revising. Do not feel the need to revise every single day in year 9, your brain will just go into overload. Instead what I recommend is that you fully put your head down in those subjects you plan on taking. For your question about aiming for all nines, yes it is possible but only if you put the work in. It will be hard, I won't lie to you, but once you put the work in get to the top of your own abilities it will be possible. What I recommend which I wish I did earlier though is to really put your head down. I know I said it before but it is really important.
(edited 3 months ago)
Feel free to ask any questions
(edited 3 months ago)
Original post by Fuoftid5ks4s4u
Hi, I'm currently in year 10 and to a superise it looks like we're taking nearly all the same subjects accept geography. I'll be pretty honest with you, you have taken a pretty strong set of subjects here and if your aiming for top, top unis in the future they will definitely be impressed with what you've got here. Let me get to the point though, I'm not fully qualified yet to give you advice on how to get all nines but this is my perspective. In year 9, do not bother revising every single day for your gcses. ( especially 3 hours) .First of all, not only is that a massive amount of pressure on you but if im right you haven't even started your actual gcse work. It all starts in year 10, I'd say that's when you should start revising. Do not feel the need to revise every single day in year 9, your brain will just go into overload. Instead what I recommend is that you fully put your head down in those subjects you plan on taking. For your question about aiming for all nines, yes it is possible but only if you put the work in. It will be hard, I won't lie to you, but once you put the work in get to the top of your own abilities it will be possible. What I recommend which I wish I did earlier though is to really put your head down. I know I said it before but it is really important.
A few things to address here, for starters we need to understand that universities don’t care about what GCSEs you take, only what grades you get. SO DO WHAT YOU ENJOY! Secondly, even year 10 seems too early for any constant revision - the start of year 11 is fine (even considered too early by some).
I saw that some unis take into consideration of what gcses you took so I just took that info and ran with it I must be wrong tho. I won't lie and say I don't enjoy the subjects I'm doing though I think they're pretty fun.
Original post by Fuoftid5ks4s4u
I saw that some unis take into consideration of what gcses you took so I just took that info and ran with it I must be wrong tho. I won't lie and say I don't enjoy the subjects I'm doing though I think they're pretty fun.
I would say that thinking about what a levels you want to take is useful as well, perhaps you could take certain GCSEs that would help prepare you for the a level course.
Original post by Desperadoodle
How did you revise? How strict were you with yourself and your time? How disciplined were you etc?
What are some of the best tips you can give to get all 9's in GCSE's?
What are some of the best tips you can give to get all 9's in GCSE's?
Hello,
I'm a student who received all 9s at GCSE in 10 subjects, including AQA Further Maths. My best advice is to convince yourself you love every subject; it will make revising a whole lot easier! I missed all of year 10 (due to medical stuff) and I didn't want to redo the year, so I spent most of year 11 learning the stuff taught in year 10, and a little time revising. The reason I wanted to say that is because it is sometimes suggested that you have to spend an inordinate amount of time studying to get all 9s, but I don't think that's true. I managed to get all 9s in my mocks as well, and that was only a month after I started revising.
I revised about 2 hours most weekdays after January and for mocks (minus Tuesday - evening clubs) and 3-5 on the weekends (over the two days, that is) and about 2-3hrs/day in the Easter Holidays. I used flashcards and past-papers, but I think the main reason for doing well was that I used the Feynman technique, where you explain concepts to something/ someone (in my case, to my desk chair or parents). It helps if you have a human so they can ask questions, but if not, talking to a wall is fine - either way, you should understand the topics better
. Isaac Physics, PMT (physics and maths tutor, not the other one) and cognito were helpful with sciences and maths and Mr Salles was helpful for English. I made quite a few mind-maps for history, found drama pretty self-explanatory, and did daily (~15 mins) quizlet for German. Honestly, I only learned the dative the day before the writing exam...Also, although not ideal, cramming can be beneficial!
But I digress. I hope that puts it in a nutshell for you. The best advice I can probably give is don't stress; it's never too late, and try to learn out of enjoyment.
I wish you the best of luck with all your GCSEs!
(edited 3 months ago)
Commenting so I can find this thread easily again as there are so many good tips!
Original post by Desperadoodle
How did you revise? How strict were you with yourself and your time? How disciplined were you etc?
What are some of the best tips you can give to get all 9's in GCSE's?
What are some of the best tips you can give to get all 9's in GCSE's?
hey,
I got 10 9s and one 8, but I have to say, don't be too hard on yourself. As you come into y12 you will realise that GCSEs don't actually matter, and the results (as long as they're 7-) really don't make a difference to anyone.
What i did was essentially as much work as i possibly could without dying. So I would come home from school, do 4 hours, then on the weekend do 11 hours a day, so 22 hours in total.
I would really recommend studying online using google meets with a friend, it really helps you stay motivated and studious.
Make sure you make time for extra-curriculars.
Original post by CatInTheCorner
ok, i got 9999999888.
Maths - math genie - watch the videos, follow along, then do the worksheets - got me a 9
english lit - listen to audiobooks of the books you have to read, use spark notes, try and force yourself to be interested in the book ( watching a movie on it is also a good idea to give a face to the characters )
english lang - there are templates for each kind of writing ( letter, article, etc ) that you can find online. Memorise a few main features of each and you're fine
physics - go through the spec, see exactly what you have to know and learn nothing more. Do past papers. use the cgp.
biology - same as physics
chemistry - same as physics but watch videos for practicals so you remember them better
history/RE - use the spec. essays are easier than you think. two points for, two points against. Work out how many paragraphs you need for the number of marks the essay is. Don't bother with dates, other than the general gist. RE is incredibly easy imho, you can watch philosophy videos on crash course too for extra help.
Languages - learn some impressive grammar points ( like using a specific, advanced phrase ) and just shove it into your essays. Just force it in. Make sure you use all tenses possible. Cram em in there. Vocab is important, use quizlet and also make sure you use the voice feature so that you actually hear the word, otherwise the listening exam will drag you
In general:
- use the spec and learn exactly what's there and nothing else
- do past papers in timed conditions IN THIS METHOD - go through it, answer the easiest ones, then the intermediate ones, then the hard ones. Leave the hardest one for last. This way you get all of the possible marks without wasting time on something you were going to get wrong anyways.
- keep an eye on the time in exams and past papers
- make sure you don't have any special needs or learning difficulties, these can be sneaky, I had no idea I had ADHD so definitely ask your SENCO for a general assessment just to check
- ask questions in class. Do not leave a class without understanding something
- at the end of every week, if you can be bothered, just go through the spec and see what points you covered in each of your subjects in class and do a few exam questions on them. If you get them wrong, try and do a little revision. If you do this, you literally will not need to revise.
- duolingo is the GOAT for languages. Use it.
- blooket. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Literally video games but they somehow make you learn stuff. I learnt a whole a level in three months using blooket I am not kidding. Got an A. BLOOKET. it's amazing.
Maths - math genie - watch the videos, follow along, then do the worksheets - got me a 9
english lit - listen to audiobooks of the books you have to read, use spark notes, try and force yourself to be interested in the book ( watching a movie on it is also a good idea to give a face to the characters )
english lang - there are templates for each kind of writing ( letter, article, etc ) that you can find online. Memorise a few main features of each and you're fine
physics - go through the spec, see exactly what you have to know and learn nothing more. Do past papers. use the cgp.
biology - same as physics
chemistry - same as physics but watch videos for practicals so you remember them better
history/RE - use the spec. essays are easier than you think. two points for, two points against. Work out how many paragraphs you need for the number of marks the essay is. Don't bother with dates, other than the general gist. RE is incredibly easy imho, you can watch philosophy videos on crash course too for extra help.
Languages - learn some impressive grammar points ( like using a specific, advanced phrase ) and just shove it into your essays. Just force it in. Make sure you use all tenses possible. Cram em in there. Vocab is important, use quizlet and also make sure you use the voice feature so that you actually hear the word, otherwise the listening exam will drag you
In general:
- use the spec and learn exactly what's there and nothing else
- do past papers in timed conditions IN THIS METHOD - go through it, answer the easiest ones, then the intermediate ones, then the hard ones. Leave the hardest one for last. This way you get all of the possible marks without wasting time on something you were going to get wrong anyways.
- keep an eye on the time in exams and past papers
- make sure you don't have any special needs or learning difficulties, these can be sneaky, I had no idea I had ADHD so definitely ask your SENCO for a general assessment just to check
- ask questions in class. Do not leave a class without understanding something
- at the end of every week, if you can be bothered, just go through the spec and see what points you covered in each of your subjects in class and do a few exam questions on them. If you get them wrong, try and do a little revision. If you do this, you literally will not need to revise.
- duolingo is the GOAT for languages. Use it.
- blooket. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Literally video games but they somehow make you learn stuff. I learnt a whole a level in three months using blooket I am not kidding. Got an A. BLOOKET. it's amazing.
. I love your revisions techniques, I'm doing mocks right now and I have left revision too late so I am cramming. I should probably be revising now. I just need some advice though, how did you cope with ALL the content, I find it really overwhelming and hard to cope with especially because some of my teachers aren't great; there being sooooo many revision resources and sooo much stupid science things i need to remember. I know I just need to practice and practice and I will, I just need to find a sustainable way of not getting stressed and giving up! I NEED MOtivation. Im Aiming for 789s
Original post by cindyouwho
Hi - I got 9s in all my subjects except for Maths and Physics.
Like others have said above, do PASTPAPERS and MARK THEM. Past questions are often repeated in exams and it's a good way to 1) practice active recall and 2) understand the format of exams and what examiners are looking for.
For subjects like English Lit and History where you have to memorise quotes/dates/statistics etc. for essays, try writing things on sticky notes and sticking them on your wall.
For science, I used the CGP revision guides, savemyexams, and youtube videos (freescience lessons and cognito are good).
Honestly, don't stress about it. I procastinated a lot during study leave so don't beat yourself up if you aren't sticking to a strict schedule. If you've been paying attention in lessons and done a handful of pastpapers for every subject, you should be fine.
Also, make sure to get 8 hours of sleep before every exam. That's probably most important.
Like others have said above, do PASTPAPERS and MARK THEM. Past questions are often repeated in exams and it's a good way to 1) practice active recall and 2) understand the format of exams and what examiners are looking for.
For subjects like English Lit and History where you have to memorise quotes/dates/statistics etc. for essays, try writing things on sticky notes and sticking them on your wall.
For science, I used the CGP revision guides, savemyexams, and youtube videos (freescience lessons and cognito are good).
Honestly, don't stress about it. I procastinated a lot during study leave so don't beat yourself up if you aren't sticking to a strict schedule. If you've been paying attention in lessons and done a handful of pastpapers for every subject, you should be fine.
Also, make sure to get 8 hours of sleep before every exam. That's probably most important.
I am a procrastinator so am now cramming in my revision for my mocks. I should probably be revising now. How did you stop this? Do u have any advice for when you are finding all the content overly overwhelming and strategies used to deal with it
Original post by Desperadoodle
How did you revise? How strict were you with yourself and your time? How disciplined were you etc?
What are some of the best tips you can give to get all 9's in GCSE's?
What are some of the best tips you can give to get all 9's in GCSE's?
Basically I got 9s in all my gcses - i bought some notes of this person I found and oh my days it saved my so much or id be finished; they sell Business, Computer science ( both AQA) and Edexcel Geography and it was so detailed and was cheap so my bank account wasn't crying 🙂 but it was so helpful I would've cried without it
I can send the link if anyone wants
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